Folding table



N. W. MUNGER FOLDING TABLE March ll, 1952 2 SHEETS--SI-IEET l Filed June 28, 1946 INVENTOR RT'TOR NE'Y i March 11, 1952 N W MUNGER 2,588,405

FOLDING TABLE Filed June 28, 1946 4 ZASHEETS--SHEET 2 mvENw-QP;

NELSON ML MUNcrER BY Maf/W? ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING TABLE Nelson W. Munger, Detroit, Mich.

Application June 28, 1946, Serial No. 680,198

3 Claims. (Cl. 311-90) 1 This invention relates to folding tables the object being to provide a table having a series of leaves foldable upon one another in alternate relation to provide chambers therebetween when the leaves are folded together, means being provided to sustain the leaves in parallel relation when the table is erected.

These and other features and objects of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and a folding table embodying my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings' in which- Fig. 1 is a plan View of the table top.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is an end view showing the leaves in folded position.

Fig. 4 is an end view showing the leaves partially unfolded.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative structure by means of which the legs may be secured to the table.

In the preferred form of construction the leaves I, 2, 3 and 4 are in hinged relation, the leaves I and 2 being provided with hinges 5 and 6, leaves 3 and 4 being provided with hinges 9 and I0 and the leaf 3 is hinged to the leaf 2 by means of hinges 'I and 8. The hinges are so arranged that the leaves may be folded one upon the other in succession as in Figs. 3 and 4 and the leaves are provided with side flanges as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, as Well as depending end flanges spaced from their opposite ends as shown in Figs. l and 2.

It is further pointed out that the hinges l and 8 between the leaves 2 and 3 have a removable pin and thus enables the two leaves on each side to be independently folded together and to be carried in tWo sections, each section being light enough to be readily carried by hand.

The leaves when folded provide chambers for carrying ordinary articles as the flanges of one leaf engage the anges of an adjacent leaf as will be understood from Figs. 3 and 4. The leg elements I I, I2, I3 and I4 are formed of sheet metal or other suitable material and include right angular end flanges introduceable in the corners of the outer leaves I and 4 respectively. In each ease there are angular strips I5, I6, II and I 8, and bolts I9, 2U, 2l and 22 extend through threaded apertures provided thereof in the angular strips and engage the ends of the trespective legs to support and secure the same in position with the flanges of the legs in pressure contact with the flanges of the leaves I and 4.

when the leaves are 1.1 1 the position for use as a table the intermediate leaves are prevented from deflection with respect to the outer leaves by bars 23 arranged at opposite ends of the table as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The bar 23 is here shown as being formed of sheet metal; and the two end leaves I and 4 each have spring clips 24 and 25 secured at 25 at their opposite ends upon the outer upright walls of the leaf end flanges. The respective bars 23 are secured at their ends Within the clips and are held against the under surfaces of leaves I, 2, 3 and 4, and thusI support and maintain the leaves against deflection when the parts are in position for use as in Figs. 1 and 2. The bars 23 are held against longitudinal displacement by lugs 25 secured to the outer surfaces of the end flanges of leaves I and 4.

An alternative means for supporting the legs relative to the end leaves is shown in Fig. 6 in which the flanges at the upper end of each leg are introduced into the space between the bracket 2l and the side flanges 28 of the end leaves and are retained in position by the bolts I9, 2d, 2| and 22 respectively as shown in Fig. 1.

It is believed evident from the foregoing description that the table is comparatively simple in construction and is readily foloable to occupy a comparatively small space and may be readily carried in the baggage compartment of an automobile and easily assembled for use.

Having thus briey described by invention, its utility and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States isl. A folding table comprising a series of leaves hingedly joined longitudinally and foldable one upon the other in alternate relation, leg elements detachably supported and secured in the outer corners of each of the end leaves of the series, spring clips secured to the under sides of the outer leaves, a leaf supporting bar detachably secured at its ends Within said clips and bearing against the under surfaces of said leaves for transversely supporting the same against deection, and spaced lugs secured to the under sides of said outer leaves and positioned to retainingly engage opposite ends of said bar to prevent longitudinal displacement thereof.

2.V A folding table comprising a series of leaves hingedly joined longitudinally and foldable one upon the other in alternate relation, leg elements detachably supported and secured in the outer corners of each of the end leaves of the series, said leaves having depending end flanges, spring clips secured to the end flanges of the outer leaves, leaf supporting bars secured at their ends 3 within said clips and bearing against the under surfaces of said leaves for transversely supporting the same against deection, and spaced lugs secured to said end flanges and positioned to retainingly engage opposite ends of said bars to prevent longitudinal displacement thereof.

3. A folding table comprising a series of leaves hingedly joined longitudinally and foldable one upon the other in alternate relation, leg elements detachably supported and secured in the outer corners of each of the end leaves of the series, said leaves having depending end anges and side anges cooperable upon folding of said leaves to provided a storage chamber between each pair of leaves, spring clips secured to the outer sides of the end anges of the outer leaves, leaf supporting bars secured at their ends Within said clips and bearing against the under surfaces of said leaves for transversely supporting the same against deflection, and spaced lugs secured to the outer sides of said latter flanges 4 and positioned to retainingly engage opposite ends of said bars to prevent longitudinal displacement thereof.

NELSON W. MUNGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordlin the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 167,924 Orgill Sept. 21, 1875 375,523 Addaman Dec. 27, 1887 396,918 Butler Jan. 29, 1889 633,203 Makinen Sept. 19, 1899 653,851 Smith July 17, 1900 1,305,809 Kiefer June 3, 1919 1,634,572 Davis July 5, 1927 2,269,370 Haibeck Jan. 6, 1942 2,291,339 Lemoyne July 28, 1942 

